A CADET hut has been saved from closure after Gwynedd Council granted permission for a metal fence protecting the site to be kept.

Earlier this year, the Army Cadet Force Association (ACFA) spent over £50,000 revamping the Porthmadog drill hall on Heol y Wyddfa after frequent attacks from yobs, who used bottles and stones as “missiles” to throw at the hut, left it in ruins.

At one point, the attacks got so bad that the detachment was almost forced to close for good.

The building was temporarily shut for eight weeks whilst it was fitted with new floors, furniture, kitchen, bathrooms and a 12ft high steel fence surrounding the premises to prevent any more incidents.

However, last month, the ACFA were told they had to apply for planning permission retrospectively after it came to light that they did not have planning permission for the fence.

At the time Colour Sergeant David Griffith, who runs the cadet detachment, said that the building would be closed if they were forced to tear the fence down, leaving it unprotected and open to more attacks of vandalism in the future.

This week, the application was approved by Gwynedd Council on the condition that the fence be painted a dark grey colour to blend in with the surrounding area.

Speaking about last week’s decision, Mr Griffiths said it had come as a great relief.

“This is fantastic news,” he said.

“We did have doubts as to whether we were going to be allowed to keep the fence and I know this caused a lot of concern in the local community.

“The local CBM Raymond Williams wrote a letter supporting the application and I would like to thank him for his help and the council for seeing common sense with the matter.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesman said: “Planning permission was granted through delegated powers on September 21 to retain a fence at Heol y Wyddfa, Porthmadog. The fence is to be painted a dark grey colour within one month of the date of the permission.”